It looks like democrats are having trouble enjoying the finer things in life, judging by this tweet from Congressman Ted Deutch:

This came about in the lead-up to the senate’s votes on several gun control practices, all of which have been shot down so far (pun not intended). In the mounting tension of both the talks and the protests happening outside, it’s refreshing to see some good, old-fashioned petty social media bickering between the two parties.

While the Dems are all locked up with these protests, it looks like the conservatives are treating this more like any other afternoon. Perhaps it’s for the best that they can chill out and have a drink and a cigar against the backdrop of some of the fiercest debates in recent memory. It reminds one of the attitude that investment bankers would show when walking to work through hordes of Occupy Wall Street protesters a few years back.

If a U.S. congressman can take a nice booze and cigar break, then I don’t see why I can’t do the same thing around here every now and then.

(Editor’s Note: Fuck you, Intern. Get back to work.).

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.: The democratic sit-in has ended, with nothing having been accomplished. Sounds about right.

This isn’t even about guns anymore. Democrats are demanding we toss out due process and just take rights away from anyone *suspected* of a crime. Sorry assholes, that’s not how freedom works. Also, that anonymous Republican Congressman is FaF.

Because American citizens have a constitutional right to own a gun. See District of Columbia v. Heller; See also McDonald v. City of Chicago.

Denying someone that right because of an arbitrary classification would deny these citizens due process of law guaranteed in the 14th and 5th Amendments. Thus the government could deprive someone a constitutional right because they suspect that someone “might” have ties to a terrorist organization or “might” commit some future offense.

While we do have some restrictions on constitutional rights (i.e. categorical exemptions in free speech) it is not right and has never been America’s policy to preemptively deprive someone of a right because of the fear of future harm.

To do so would would be to give in to the very thing we fear. To trade freedom for “protection” can only lead to tyranny.

That was meant to be ***Mr. Cotten Gin. Fuck you intern for not allowing us to edit comments. You too Dorn. Just because the state doesn’t give you the freedom to roam around a playground doesn’t mean you can deprive us the ability to roam around the comments section without fear of grammatical errors.

I fucking hate southerners. I’m sorry I want to give people a background check before they have the power of life and death over me. Doesn’t that make sense. Aren’t people placed on the terrorist watch list because of evidence of ties to terrorist organizations, not political games?

Hope you enjoyed that Sandy Hook massacre. Gosh I love freedom! No better way to teach it in our schools!

Did I ever say that I was against background checks? No. Quite the opposite actually. A background check is just that, a check into a persons background to see if they have done something criminal (like felony) to see if such conviction would prevent their purchase.

But this is the kicker, so please pay close attention. A felon that is prevented from obtaining a gun has has due process. They committed a crime, appeared before a jury of their peers, and were convicted. Because they have done something criminal in the past (as opposed to “might” do something in the future) they are rightfully and lawfully deprived of their right to own a gun. Just as they are deprived Liberty when serving a prison sentence.

Conversely, a person who is placed on a watch-list for which there is no criteria, notification, or process by which their name may be cleared has not actually “acted” in a manner that would justify depriving them of their rights.

The events in Sandy Hook and Orlando are terrible, and I resent the assertion that I would somehow enjoy them. However, tragic events do not justify the deprivation of rights without due process. Freedom may be abused and unfortunately it can be abused to hurt others. But I stand by my conviction that this freedom, though never perfect, is worth having, holding, and fighting for.

It wouldn’t even require a liberal majority. It would only require a president that appoints a CIA or FBI director willing to add political enemies to the list.

Unfortunately, I could see either of our candidates allowing this to happen on both sides of the aisle. Make no mistake, this policy is so bad because it can be abused by both Democrats and Republicans.

You start denying people guns who are suspected terrorists, then they’ll realize they’re being watched and go off the grid. “Oh sorry you can’t buy a gun because the FBI just told me they’re watching you.” And you let the government start creating lists – then before you realize it everyone is on some sort of list. As CottonGin mentioned there is no easy way to prevent them from getting guns due to the 14th and 5th amendments. There’s just really no easy way around it. It comes down to gun store owners and dealers taking precautionary measures into they’re own hands as best as they can. The FBI done fucked up in Orlando though after the gun store owner fucking called them saying the shooter was attempting to buy heavy body armor.

Maybe we should start requiring a gun license – like a driver’s license – that requires some sort of class and training in order to obtain a license? That might be a good deterrent.

Because we have the right to due process in this country. You are innocent until proven guilty of a crime. Therefore we cannot strip people of their constitutional rights, like owning guns, unless they have been proven guilty in a court of law. If we stripped people of their rights because they seemed suspicious then people like founders of this country, MLK, or even just protestors in general would have been put in prison just because the government didn’t like them. When we start being able to lock people up because of secret lists it harkens back to things like Nazi Germany and the Jewish people. “Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither and will lose both” – Ben Franklin.

Also you cannot buy a gun without getting a background check. So I don’t know why liberals have signs that say background checks for everyone. Like. We do. I’m from Alabama and buying a shotgun was a pain in the ass. Now there are two notable exceptions. Gun shows, and buying from another person (like a friend or family member) instead of a store. But at the end of the day, closing that loophole isn’t going to stop criminals from buying guns. Let’s say the government forces people to make personal transactions at a nearby store authorized to sell guns… Well us legal citizens will do that. Criminals will just do it under the table. It doesn’t stop anything. Just makes liberals feel a little safer I suppose. The only thing that makes me feel safe is my loud as fuck alarm and my 12 gauge shotgun.